International leaders in probiotic and prebiotic science to gather in Tokyo for one-day symposium
Meeting Announcement
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Jun-2026 18:16 ET (22-Jun-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)
When evaluating the health of native, wild snakes in the southeastern US, some species emerged as particularly sickly, a new study showed. Pygmy rattlesnakes – historically persecuted by humans – were found to be particularly affected by disease caused by fungi and parasites. The study also showed that other factors such as location and simultaneous infections can influence snake health, too. The team said this broad overview of native snakes’ health could help prevent pathogen spillover between native and invasive as well as free-living and captive snakes.
Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that the rat brain differs from other mammals in the proportion of upper and deep layer neurons in the cortex. This change likely arises from differences in the timing of signaling pathways during early brain development. Importantly, this identified mechanism may have future applications in regenerative medicine for developmental and neurological disorders.
This four-paper Series and accompanying comments examine the growing but under-recognised burden of chronic liver disease in Europe, with a focus on steatotic liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and alcohol-related liver disease, along with viral hepatitis B and C. The Series provides country-level data on MASLD policies, analyses systemic failures in prevention, timely detection, and equitable access to care across diverse populations and health systems; and evaluates policy gaps, health system responses, and innovations in diagnostics, care models, and public health strategies. The Series calls for the rapid integration of metabolic liver health into non-communicable disease frameworks, strengthened surveillance and care pathways, and coordinated, equity-driven, and preventative approaches to identify the “missing millions” and reduce the rising human and economic toll of chronic liver disease across the region.
Chromosome numbers and cell size fuel cancer progression, according to new studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Cancer Research.
Researchers have discovered how part of the body’s immune system could better combat a leading cause of death for people with cystic fibrosis (CF).
A team led by The University of Queensland's Professor Peter Sly and Dr Abdullah Tarique has identified how macrophages – the white blood cells that fight infection in the body – function differently in people with CF, compared to others.